Pollution
A century-long record of mercury contamination in seabirds
Seabird feathers can tell us how serious mercury pollution in the ocean is.
Author: Jiwoon Park
I am a PhD student in chemical oceanography at University of Washington. I am studying how different forms of metals in the ocean are shaping microbial communities in the North Pacific Ocean. When not working, I like going for a walk, visiting farmers' markets and playing keyboard.
Plastic
Chemicals released from plastic disrupt marine microbes
We know how plastic pieces affect ocean life, but do we think enough about “invisible” chemicals from plastic?
Pollution
An alternative for Brita water filters may come from the ocean
Read about how diatoms (algae in the ocean) can be used to remove nickel from contaminated waters
Ocean Acidification
Double trouble: Coral reefs are threatened by ocean acidification and copper
Slow growth and sickness are in stock for coral reefs if we continue putting carbon dioxide into the ocean.
Biology
Phytoplankton are experts at adjusting themselves to changing temperatures
Learn about how quickly phytoplankton can survive frequent changes between high and low ocean temperatures!
Pollution
Plastic pollution in the time of COVID-19 pandemic
Impacts of COVID-19 pandemic are not just confined to public health and the economy, they extend to the environment.
Biogeochemistry
Volcanoes fuel life in the ocean
Read about how volcanic ash travels hundreds of miles by wind and supplies iron, an essential nutrient, to ocean life.
Undergraduate Research
That’s a weird thermometer! Using changes in the travel time of sound to monitor changes in ocean temperatures
How can we use the speed of sound in seawater to track ocean temperatures and study climate change?
Chemistry
Metals from penguin poop can support life in the Southern Ocean
Penguins help the Southern Ocean ecosystems by pooping! Read about how metals from penguin poop keep the Southern Ocean healthy.
Pollution
Are biodegradable plastics too good to be true? Here’s what actually happens to them in the ocean
“Biodegradable plastics are better for the environment!” You might have heard this a lot, but is this true? Do biodegradable…
Pollution
Fish feed on ocean plastic… but are they really only eating plastic?
Pretty much any plastic product is made from plastic pellets. However, billions of pellets have now made their way into…
Biological oceanography Climate Change
Microbes pull nitrogen out of air to feed the warming oceans
Some ocean microbes can take nitrogen gas from the air and convert it to different forms that can be used…
Conservation
Plastic in the ocean chokes albatrosses
Albatrosses are amazing wanderers of the ocean, but they are threatened by ocean plastic pollution. Read on to learn more…
Pollution
Tiny Human-Engineered Particles Damages Marine Life
Nanoparticles exist everywhere in our lives – on the fabric of your clothing, the makeup you wear, the display of…
Pollution
Human mercury pollution found at the deepest ocean
For many decades, humans have been putting mercury into the ocean, contaminating big fish like tuna and swordfish. But we…
Coral
Predicting the future of coral reefs is complicated by human impacts
Coral reefs are often referred to as the “rainforests of the sea” for hosting a great diversity of life, but…
Chemistry
Dust may feed more life in a warmer ocean
Just as our bodies need iron to stay healthy, ocean microbes also need iron to grow. Iron in the ocean…
Plastic Pollution
Ocean plastic pollution damages bacteria that help us breathe
Every minute, we are dumping a garbage truckload of plastic litter into the ocean. Plastic pollution in the ocean are…
Climate Change
How will climate change affect the Southern Ocean ecosystems?
Changes in the Southern Ocean can affect global climate, and understanding the Southern Ocean’s response to climate change helps us…
Microbiology
What your poop says about your diet: Iron in the ocean is controlled by zooplankton diet and poop
Have you ever had weird colored poop? Just like your poop can tell you what you've been eating lately, zooplankton…